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Friday, April 13, 2012

Ward Room: How Mitt Romney Can Beat Obama in Illinois

So basically Edward McClelland talks to a Republican ward committeeman who also is running for the chairmanship of the city GOP - John Curry - about a number of things especially the status of Republicans in the city of Chicago. GOP turnout was up in last month's primary election and also the possibility of picking up city council and state legislative seats in Chicago. We shall see about that.

I'm very curious as to how Curry thinks that Romney can win in Illinois:

Q: This fall, you're going to have an election where a Chicagoan is heading the ticket, and in some wards he gets more than 99 percent of the vote. What are the challenges of running against Obama in Chicago?

A: I don't see it as a challenge. I see it as an opportunity. Certainly, he has a strong base of support in Chicago, but I think President Obama has disappointed such a wide array of people across all economic spectrums and community spectrums that you're not going to see his support in Chicago to be as vigorous as it was in 2008. Then, this was a chance for Chicago to put someone in the White House. He was the local hero. He had an energizing message, and people were fed up with the Bush Administration, for whatever reason. They wanted a change. All of those elements are gone now. People are used to Obama as president, and see him as a Mayor Daley writ large. His policies have not produced the nirvana that has been promised. As reflected in our increased primary vote, there is a growing sense of dissatisfaction among Chicago voters, that they still want a change.

Q: But you don't think Mitt Romney can win Illinois, do you?

A: I do think he can win Illinois. The fact that there'd be diminished enthusiasm for Obama in the city of Chicago helps Romney's chances where he needs to have them helped. If there's a suppression -- or, I say, if there's a diminuation of the pro-Obama vote in Chicago, then he has less lifting to in the suburbs, in the collar counties and Downstate.

We shall see about that. I can agree that there probably isn't as much energy behind Barack Obama this year as there was in 2008. Not sure if that's enough for Romney to win Illinois which is considered a solidly Democrat state in recent years.

BTW, it was noted that the primary day was a very nice spring day back in March. That wasn't even enough to entice voters to their precincts. It got more Republicans out though!